It is unfortunate to think of John Spratt as a “friend” of our district. Friends do not let government spending spiral beyond imaginable numbers.

Friends do not support ineffective legislation or inefficient government and then expect you, their “friend,” to pay for it all. Neither do friends support legislation that has the long term effect of eroding the support and structure that has permitted this country to prosper through private business and individual freedoms.

In regards to Elissa Boyet’s article in the Sept. 22 Carolina Gateway, I would like to offer my thoughts.

For several reasons, I am against alcohol sales on Sundays. Uncontrolled growth, more drunk drivers on the road and, in my own humble opinion, even less time for families to spend together. Religion is a whole other issue that I will not get into here.

Got a question for a candidate running for office this year? If you do, you may want to submit it for an upcoming political forum. Candidates will be asked questions from voters at the Before You Vote 2010 Candidate Forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at the City of Light’s Inspiration Chapel auditorium.

Candidates will also face voters questions at a two more forums at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 and Oct. 25 at Bundy Auditorium in the Bradley Arts and Sciences Building at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster.

Let us take this time to recognize domestic violence month. Domestic Violence Month evolved from the “Day of Unity” in October 1981, to raise awareness of efforts to end violence against women and their children.

Domestic violence has become increasingly prevalent in modern culture.

What is domestic violence? It’s a behavior used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners can be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian. They can live together, separated or simply dating.

U.S. Rep. John Spratt has voted for HR 3534 (CLEAR Act) on July 30, 2010. HR 3534 is a thinly disguised permanent roadblock to American energy which drives American companies out of the Gulf, delays future drilling, increases dependency on foreign oil and implements climate change legislation and youth education programs. But most importantly, it mandates membership in the Law of the Sea Treaty without the required two-thirds vote to ratify it in the U.S. Senate.

I have a confession to make. I helped John Spratt get elected in 1982. Like so many other conservatives I have voted for him and encouraged others to vote for him in every election since then through and including 2008.

In short, I have voted for John all 14 times, and would have this year too had he not voted for the bailouts, the stimulus, cap and trade and the healthcare bill. The John Spratt I voted for in 1982 would not have cast those votes, for back then he was a conservative southern Democrat.

I would like to take this opportunity to show my support for the Republican candidates, both statewide and nationally.

Thank you to the S. C. Conservative Republicans, Jim DeMint, Mick Mulvaney, Nikki Haley, Mick Zais, Tim Scott, Ken Ard and Rob McCoy, to name a few. They will all help to put America back on top of her game.

These candidates and many others statewide and nationally mean many different things to many people in all issues concerning America.

Howard Schnauber wrote, “My Name Is Old Glory.” You see, it is all about a piece of cloth that I hold dear. People use this cloth often. Most do so with pride.

Although sometimes ragged, and sometimes torn, this cloth looms atop the world’s tallest buildings, and stands watch in America’s halls of justice. always-standing guard with power throughout the world. Peace, honor, truth, justice, and freedom.

That is exactly what she stands for. This cloth has fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years.

The article regarding electing a replacement on the Lancaster County School Board was broadsided by a reader’s comments that we need folks on the board who will not waste their time trying to establish a dress code for students. Although the writer didn’t approve of baggy pants, it appeared to me that the reader felt the board should center their attention on student and teacher performance and leave the dress to the student.

They stood in a military-type straight line, all toes pointed to the mark on the floor. All 10 stood at attention. What is unusual about this particular formation? Nine of them are 14 years old and No. 10 is 49 years old.

The Scoutmaster then asked, “Can all of you recite the Scout oath? Do you live up to the Scout law?”

“Before I ask you to raise your right hand to be sworn in as a Scout, let us review the Scout law, the Scout motto, the Scout slogan and the Scout oath:”

Sometimes friendship can blind a person. It’s easy to pick out small contributions to an area by any congressman. However, any congressman who supports blindly the measures that President Barack Obama has put in place does not deserve to be re-elected.

I am not a TEA Party person or Republican. I am an Independent. I am also sick and tired of the debt that this president and Congress has buried us in. Between the handouts and the so called health care for all we are slowly being pushed into a socialistic state.

This is in response to Helen Mackey’s article about the assault on Bill Farrar, Lancaster High School assistant principal. I agree that Bill Farrar is a very nice person and didn’t deserve to get punched.

I also know Rodney Thompson and his family and know that they have always been very nice people. I don’t know what happened at school that day or what caused Rodney to get upset.

The J. Marion Sims Foundation launched a literacy initiative in 2002 to address the alarmingly high rate of illiteracy (more than 50 percent) in the Lancaster area. Part of that initiative included facilitating the creation of the Lancaster Area Literacy Cooperative (LALC) as a way to focus energy on promoting greater community ownership of literacy.

As I ride through Lancaster, Chester and York counties, I am deeply saddened by the number of plants and buildings boarded up and falling down as a result of Springs Industries moving the bulk of its business to countries south of the United States.

It’s one of those slap your forehead moments followed by a “Duh.” Barbara Wrape, co-owner of Annette’s Hallmark House, has heard it before. Lancaster shoppers will buy an item in Rock Hill or Charlotte that is available right here in Lancaster.

“Sometimes people need to be reminded of what we have here,” Wrape said.